For the past year or so, it seems everyone I know (who’s a gun person) is carrying a Hellcat. I had no doubt it was a great gun. Just about everything from Springfield Armory has “I want it” written all over it. Its quality is never an issue and its ability to create guns with mass appeal is almost beyond rival, but I can’t buy them all.
I was so busy when the Hellcat came out, I missed the opportunity to review it for any of the magazines or blogs I write for. Then came the Hellcat Pro, and I decided not to miss this one, even if it meant paying full price and being late to the game reviewing it. However, the editor was gracious and knowledgeable enough about Springfield’s contribution to the carry-gun community to offer me a chance. I want to give you this gun guy’s perspective on one of America’s favorite carry guns.
Spoiler alert! Like so many of you, I have joined the ranks of those who carry the Hellcat Pro. I’ll go so far as say that I’ve got an inkling that the Hellcat Pro may replace the Glock 19 as the number one choice as an everyday carry gun.
A New Breed of Features
After the era of the single-stack-nines, the manufacturers began creating something small but with more capacity. With the Hellcat Pro, we have a nicely sized carry gun with 15+1 capacity, optics ready, and an accessory rail. It’s only slightly bigger than the plethora of micro-nines being offered but not by much. However, it has the rail and a red dot, lots of folks will want.
At 21 ounces, with a footprint of 6.6 inches in length, 4.8 inches in height, and 1-inch width, we have a gun that is smaller than most of the mid-size carry guns without sacrificing the features shooters demand. The hammer-forged barrel is 3.7 inches long.
The frame has an adaptive grip texture that feels secure without hurting your hands. The finish on that grip is very interesting because it wraps around the grip and makes the front and back strap feel as though they were checkered. I like checkered front and back straps, so that grip finish puts a mark in the approval column for me.
Springfield calls it Adaptive Grip Texture. It’s made up of staggered pyramid shapes that are flattened on top, interspersed with shorter ones that are pointed on top. It’s hard to capture that texture on camera because the shapes are so small, but the way it feels is somewhat unique, almost like sandpaper but different.
There is a thumb rest high on the grip that guides your hand into the proper position. The beavertail is extended which aids in reducing felt recoil. The slide has a Melonite finish. Front and rear serrations to aid the shooter when racking the slide.
The sights are somewhat different. The front sight is a large luminescent tritium dot, and the rear sight is a tactical U-shaped notch. I found the sights easy to pick up and center. The trigger guard is undercut to give the shooter a high grip. The trigger has a flat front surface with a blade safety. The Hellcat Pro’s trigger pull averaged 7 pounds. There was about .5-inch take-up and a very smooth break.
Range Time!
I’ve shot this gun a lot since getting it. I enjoy sharing it with others. Everyone seems to have heard of it, and when any of my friends mention it, I’m quick to give them an opportunity to see what it’s like. I dissed the gun once, and I even wrote about that here. I had a bad shooting day and blamed it on the gun. That was premature.
The Hellcat Pro does present a somewhat unique shooting experience because of its size, grip, and sights. At first, I didn’t give it a fair chance. However, having read reviews from some of my favorite and trusted reviewers, it occurred to me that the problem was me and not the gun. I persisted and was rewarded with some great shooting. The more I shoot the Hellcat Pro, the better I was with it and the more I liked it.
The Hellcat Pro, like every Springfield I’ve ever shot, is very accurate. Those folks in Croatia certainly know how to make their barrels. If you clamp the gun in a rest, it’s an easy tack driver out to 15 yards and beyond. Any shooter with basic skills can do well with it. As I mentioned above, the frame is designed to be held in a manner that delivers accurate shots.
The Hellcat Pro comes out of the box ready for iron sight and an optic. The optic Springfield recommends is a HEX Wasp Micro Red Dot that sells for around $300. It’s a feature-rich 3.5 MOA sight with auto-on, long battery life, and a low profile that co-witnesses with the installed sights.
I have several pistols with red dot sights, and I’m okay with them. However, I currently prefer to operate my carry pistol with standard sights — especially with a gun that has such easy-to-use sights as the Hellcat Pro. Users shooting the Hellcat Pro with the HEX Wasp give it glowing reports.
Concealed Carry
Recently, at an event, I was introduced to a gentleman who was reputed to be a knowledgeable gun person who I might find interesting. As naturally occurs among such people, the conversation soon centered around the subject of “What are you carrying?” It turned out we were both carrying a Hellcat Pro.
I asked what he’d carried before, and he said, “A S&W Shield, but I liked the idea of more ammo. The Hellcat also fits my Shield’s holster.” My previous carry gun was a Mossberg M2C2 which is only slightly larger than the Hellcat Pro, but again the same carry setup works. For the last several years, I’ve used a Bianchi 101 Foldaway holster, which is universal in that it’s a simple holster that will hold most any gun to your waistline.
If you are one of the many who have carried a Hellcat, I think you’ll find the Hellcat Pro with its added real estate and optics-ready frame a sensible upgrade. If you’ve not yet made the move to one of the smaller class of pistols (collectively known as the micro-nines), you should take a close look at the Hellcat Pro.
The Hellcat Pro is approximately 85% the size of a Glock 19, which makes it surprisingly easier to conceal. It has the same capacity as the Glock 19. All in all, it’s a great carry gun that’s easier to shoot and manage recoil than some of the smaller guns. Yet, it is easily concealable. And, if you don’t care about concealment, it makes a great holster gun for duty use or general all-around pistol packing delight.
What’s your review of the Hellcat Pro? Does it stand up to or surpass the Glock 19? Share your answers in the comment section.
Here’s just one example of a 10-yard handheld target the author shot after becoming familiar with the gun. 
The author put a several hundred rounds from various manufacturers through his Hellcat Pro without a single failure of any type. Disassembly for cleaning is straightforward, making owner-preventive maintenance easy. Here’s a size comparison with the popular Glock 19. The author believes with the popularity of the Hellcat Pro he’s seeing that it may soon replace the Glock 19 as America’s favorite carry pistol. The Hellcat Pro ships with two magazines and a nice, zippered carry pouch. The front and rear cocking serrations, and unique grip texture, make for an easy racking, easy shooting handgun. The Springfield Hellcat Pro is approximately 85% the size of a Glock 19 with the same capacity. The author believes the Hellcat Pro is destined to become the next favorite carry gun among American citizens.
@Randy
Depends. For my Smith Shiled plus believe it or not a GunMate (Uncle Mike’s) nylon universersal IWB for right or left hand appendix.
Brother let me borrow a We the People Kydex for right hand carry to try for IWB and it was uncomfortable. Pretty sure it squashed something in my britches. Haha
For my SD40 duty weapon or my other full sized Smith like the M&P9 or M&P.40 I actually carry cross draw and have a Cytac level 2 retention but that’s for open carry. It’s was built/designed for a some Glock 19 or whatever Glock names their things and holds the SD Smith’s just fine.
Dept. issued holster for M&P .40 was SafariLand with rotating top strap level 3 retention. It really does kind of depends on what you have, what you want to carry, how you want or carry or what you’re comfortable with. There’s no way around it. It’s sort of boils down to do you like red heads, blonde, brunettes, blue, green, brown eyes.
My primary carry has been a S&W Shield for the last 4 years. I’ve switched to the Hellcat pro for the added capacity. What I’d like to hear is what holsters y’all are using both iwb and owb
A couple of times a year some new wonder gun comes out and there’s a slew of articles telling us how it’s going to replace the Glock. Hasn’t happened yet.
If you get the Springfield Hellcat Pro you will put the smaller Hellcat in your house somewhere easy to get to and start carrying the Pro. You will not believe the difference!!! Both are great guns, but the Pro is a conceal carry queen!!!
To Alan, I also replaced my G19 with an Overwatch trigger. With similar results you had.
Neither company, Glock/Springfield, can do wrong.
@David Freeman… my brother has a Hellcat with some holo red dot. I hate holo sights. He laughed because I couldn’t drop all 15 rounds in an 8″ pie plate at 15 yards in 15 seconds. Told him to take the stupid thing off and I’d show him. He did and got mad because I out shot him. It’s not a bad gun though, I just don’t like it. My wife has one of the first versions with no cut on the reciever for an optic. She she loves hers though. She hates my Shield Plus that was one of the first of the production line and irons only. For some reason she doesn’t like ANY of my S&Ws… but she’s a small fry 5’5″ 125lbs compared to my 6’3″ 165lbs but she and I both agree… there will be NO Glocks in our house. As long as she’s happy with what she carries and is accurate then that’s good enough for me when I’m not with her.
A fine pistol I’m sure, however a competitor to the Glock 19 would have to start their entry into improvements with increasing simplicity and reducing parts count. If you don’t start there, it’s just a collection expansion. A serious put the Glock down and carry a hell cat situation must without exception meet those two criteria. Again. Simplicity and Parts count reduction. Does this pistol compete?
Gee, surprise surprise, I thought everyone was carrying the Sig P 365. Just love the way Springfield comes out with the latest and greatest model just after you have purchased the previous one. Save some “gushing” for the next model.
Which is considered better for concealed carry, the Hellcat Pro or the Sig P365?
I hate glocks and love my S&W’s but like was mentioned I wanted more capacity. The first tim I picked up the Hellcat Pro my eyes lit up. It’s weird because when you hold a gun you know when everything just seems right. Well it did and I bought it right there on the spot. After having to wait 72 hours to pick it up it was like Christmas. Not only that but Springfield had the gear up promotion going too. I immediately fitted my gun with a Crimson Trace red dot, only thing that was available and has over hang on both sides of the slide. I ordered a flashlight laser combo streamlight and I even outfitted it with a clipdraw. I happen to like the clip draw more than any holster I have ever tried. I took the gun out and shot it. I didn’t like the stock sights so I bought the Trijjicon equivalent from their sister company because Trijjicon themselves do not make sights for the Hellcat Pro. Having the name Pro in it I was expecting a lot. My normal carry gun is a Shield. Now I’m a firm believer that guns that start with an S you can’t go wrong with. The first time I shit my Hellcat Pro I was extremely disappointed in the trigger. I feel it has a lawyers trigger in it. Much like the author I dissed it right then and there and would have sold it on the spot that day. I just couldn’t believe how much better my trigger felt on my shield. Well I cleaned the gun and let it sit until the next weekend and I took 200 rounds of Winchester FMJ with me to the farm. I only shot around 75 rounds through it. I was much happier with the new sights and the trigger felt better that day. Needless to say I kept cleaning the gun and kept going out on the weekends when I could to poke holes in paper. I can honestly say my favorite thing about the gun is the feel, capacity and yes the accuracy. It took me a minute to get use to the trigger. I even put my trigger gauge on it and started checking it. Follow up shots are easy as well. I like the face that i don’t feel like I have to carry a few magazines on me any more. I love the grip texture. It’s weird to describe but I love it. Overall to me the Springfield should never be compared Roa glock. I’ve only shot a couple of flocks but despise them. Give me a Hellcat Pro any day!!!
Sig p365xl beats hellcat pro. Try then both yourself and you’ll see.
One additional mention: the Hellcat Pro does not have the best factory trigger… I replaced it with the Apex Tactical trigger which makes the trigger pull much smoother, and reduces the pull weight slightly, as well as shortening the pull and reset to a shorter distance to lead to a more faster and more accurate shot…
In the past, I used to carry my Glock 19 in an OWB holster. Now… the Glock 19 is just a bedstand gun. I purchased the Springfield Hellcat Pro and am able to carry it AIWB with little to no printing. I did add a Holosun 507k red dot optic to the Hellcat Pro but it is a great concealed carry gun. I definitely endorse the Hellcat Pro as a replacement for the Glock 19. IMHO the Hellcat Pro with the red dot optic leaves the Glock 19 as obsolete for an EDC handgun, and even replaces the Glock 19 as a primary home defense handgun.
David,
I look forward to reading your gun reviews every week! They are in-depth and concise. Keep up the great work.
I’m sure I will be reading “Range Day Friday” next week.
Respectfully,
Joe
I bought my Hellcat Pro and Installed a Swampfox Sentinal red dot with the green 3 MOA dot. The accuracy of my Hellcat Pro is a tack driver! Springfield firearms are life dependable!!! If you are hunting a conceal carry, high capacity, life dependable firearm….the Springfield Hellcat Pro is the one you need to buy. It is 15 + 1 and smaller in size than any other firearm in its class!
Hellcat line is great. I have carried a standard Hellcat for about three years. The flexibility of the standard gives a few more options , especially if you pocket carry.I agree the little pistol with its neat u shaped rear sight and grip texturing Is a joy to shoot. But , the standard Hellcat with its short mag fits well in my pocket holster and with its long mag add extra grip when hip carrying. No complaints with this neat pistola. However, the Hellcat Pro is on my list , not because I need it , well you know. Going to use my Hellcat it in our next threegun . What a little peach.
I have cc Glocks, 19&23s,and a S&W sheild. I switched to the hellcat pro last year and love it. I put a swampfox red dot on it. It is a micro red dot. Co-witnesses nice. I only carry this now. Trigger is nice, don’t think I will have to upgrade like the glocks.
I have both the Glock 19 & the Hellcat Pro. I am still able to get better groups with the Glock offhand but not by much. I also find the Glock more comfortable to shoot. But my carry gun is now the Springfield. It may not measure that much smaller but for me it is so much easier to carry concealed. It is a winner!
I was carrying the Hellcat and loved it. Then my friend at the gun shop showed me the Hellcat-Pro and it was over. I took it to the range, and it was fantastic at the distances I practice at 3 yards- 7 yards. I have a Glock 19 I love but this Hellcat-Pro is just so much easier and comfortable to carry all day long.and the 15 round capacity made it a game changer. I had an optic on it that worked well but I prefer it with the iron sights personally. If you want a gun that has the high capacity of a larger gun with the feel of a supped-up mouse gun then this is your gun.
I also avoided the rush to the Micro Nine fringe. One day at the range a friend of mine produced his Hellcat and told me I know your not a fan but shoot this I think it will change your mind. The Hellcat did just that. The feel of the gun in my hand and draw speed and the surety of the grip was outstanding. The accuracy of the gun was also impressive. I am a fan of the well designed iron sights. For those reasons and a number of others I now carry a Hellcat Pro everyday. I have run a small truckload of ammo through it and have been impressed with every shot.